Product with a security element

ABSTRACT

The invention relates especially to a method for producing a product that is secure against fraud, i.e. a security product. The inventive method for producing a security product with a high degree of protection against fraud or tampering is characterised as follows: in a first step, a non-personalised and/or non-individualised support is provided with a non-personalised and/or non-individualised security element ( 100 ); in a second step and/or in further steps, the non-personalised and/or non-individualised support and the non-personalised and/or non-individualised security element ( 100 ) are personalised and/or individualised; a structure ( 101 ) that is optically effective in the security element ( 100 ) produces at least two especially, colour effects; at least one of the colour effects ( 106, 107 ) only appears within a certain angular range in relation to a vertical to the surface of the security element; and a personalisable and/or individualisable layer ( 102 ) that is provided in the security element ( 100 ) and/or a personalised and/or individualised layer that is provided in the security element ( 100 ) shows personalisation and/or individualisation information.

[0001] The invention relates to a security element, a security product,a method for its personalization and/or its individualization and alsoan apparatus for its production and an apparatus for its personalizationaccording to the preamble of the relevant independent claim.

[0002] For the personalization of data carriers, such as identity cardsor ID cards, laser labeling, that is blackening by laser radiation, ofthe surface of the data carrier or the card body is a method which isestablished and used widely because of the high protection againstforgery.

[0003] In order to improve the protection against forgery, the patentapplications DE 42 43 987 A1 and EP 0 219 011 A2 propose personalizedlaser labeling or blackening by laser radiation of at least two layersarranged one above another in a data carrier. In this form of laserlabeling, an item of security information in the form of an image ortext is distributed to two or more planes.

[0004] The disadvantage with personalization information produced insuch a manner is that this cannot readily be distinguished from asimple, forged imprint of a different item of personalizationinformation likewise in a black color.

[0005] Another variant for increasing the protection against forgery isdisclosed by EP 0 105 099 A1. This European laid-open specificationproposes the provision of an integrated optically variable element oneach of the valuable documents to be secured thereby. The opticallyvariable element is a diffraction structure or a diffraction grating.When tilted or rotated, it appears to the observer as though apredefined pattern moves quasi-continuously over the element. Theproduction of such an element and its introduction into the valuabledocument is complicated and therefore expensive. The personalization orindividualization of such an element for improving the protectionagainst forgery is certainly desirable but falls down on the higherproduction costs, in particular in the case of a mass-produced articleto be protected.

[0006] The invention is based in particular on the object of providing asecurity element with high protection against forgery or counterfeiting.

[0007] The object is respectively achieved by the features specified inthe independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements of the inventionare specified in the independent claims.

[0008] The first substantial aspect of the invention comprises theprovision of an element that is secured against forgery and/orcounterfeiting, that is to say a security element, which has at leasttwo layers of different color arranged above one another. Because eachof the layers is provided with part of an item of personalization and/orindividualizing information, the result is a multicolored item ofpersonalization information and/or individualization information whichis distributed to two or more planes and, without aids, as a result oftilting or rotation of the security element or a security productprovided with the security element, can be distinguished from a simple,correspondingly colored imprint.

[0009] A second substantial aspect of the invention consists inequipping each of the at least two layers lying above one another insuch a way that their color can be changed in each case, partially or atsome points. This permits the production of a large number of securityelements or security products according to the invention in amass-production process, in this case each provided with a securityelement according to the invention. Each security element according tothe invention and/or security product which has a security elementaccording to the invention can subsequently be personalized orindividualized in a separate, later step. This permits both thecost-effective production and the cost-effective personalization of asecurity element or security product with high security against forgeryor counterfeiting. Its authenticity can additionally be checked simplyand quickly by visual means.

[0010] A third substantial aspect of the invention comprises forming thepersonalization information or the individualized information by imagepoints. Each image point is preferably formed at least by a firstcolored region of a first layer of the layers whose color can be changedand a second colored region of a second layer of the layers whose colorcan be changed. According to the invention, these regions are preferablyarranged above one another with a vertical offset, in such a way thatthe second colored region of the second layer of the layers whose colorcan be changed wholly or partly covers the first colored region of thefirst layer of the layers whose color can be changed in a (vertical)plan view of the colored regions. The first and the second coloredregion preferably have largely the same dimensions and are merely offsetvertically in relation to each other, but largely not offset laterallyin relation to each other. In this case, it is advantageous that each ofthe image points exhibits an easily visible tilting effect or colorchange as a security feature when the security element or securityproduct is tilted or rotated.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a largely transparentlayer or film is in each case provided between the layers whose colorcan be changed, it being possible for the distance between the layerswhose color can be changed to be set by choosing the thickness of thelayer or film. By means of a suitable choice of the distance between thelayers whose color can be changed, the tilting effect or color changecan be set in the desired form.

[0012] A fourth substantial aspect of the invention is to configure thelayers whose color can be changed in such a way that their color can bechanged partially or at some points by means of laser radiation and, bymeans of such a color change, to produce an item of personalizationinformation and/or individualizing information. Both the data carrierwhich has a security element according to the invention and the securityelement according to the invention itself can be personalized orindividualized by means of laser radiation. For this purpose, all thatis needed is a personalization apparatus which provides a suitable laserradiation or suitable laser radiations and guides the laser radiationover the data carrier and the security element in order to produce theitem of personalization information.

[0013] For this purpose, it will generally be necessary to match thelaser radiation in each case to the material of the data carrier, suchas the material of the card body, and to the layers whose color can bechanged. It is necessary in particular to match the wavelength or thewavelength range and/or the intensity or radiation power of the laserradiation.

[0014] If cost-effective layers of different colors which can beprocessed easily and whose color can be changed partially by one and thesame laser radiation are available, the personalization information orindividualizing information can advantageously be written into thesecurity element according to the invention in only one step. This canthen be done simultaneously, for example, image point by image point, inall the layers whose color can be changed.

[0015] The fact that laser radiation is required to personalize orindividualize the security element according to the invention ensuresthat the personalization information or the individualizing informationdoes not bleach or fade during normal use of the data carrier or underthe action of artificial light and/or daylight. A fifth substantialaspect of the invention consists in providing the security elementaccording to the invention with layers whose color can partially bechanged and whose color can be changed independently of one another bydifferent laser radiations, in particular with regard to the wavelengthor wavelength range and/or radiation intensity. In this way, if anappropriate personalization apparatus is used, each layer or plane ofthe security element can be provided individually with part of thepersonalization information or individualizing information, it beingpossible for the part of the personalization information orindividualizing information in one plane to differ from that in anotherplane. This permits the use of a complicated structure for thepersonalization information or individualizing information. A forgerwould therefore have to procure both an unpersonalized security productaccording to the invention and also the very specific personalizationapparatus, which, with relatively little effort, can largely be ruledout.

[0016] A sixth substantial aspect of the invention consists inconfiguring the layers whose color can be changed partially by suitablelaser radiation in such a way, according to the invention, that thepartial color change consists in irreversible bleaching or anirreversible, significant increase in the transparency to artificiallight and/or daylight. It is therefore in any case possible for a forgerto bleach an item of existing personalization information orindividualizing information but not to write a new item ofpersonalization information or a new item of individualizing informationinto a security element that has already been personalized. In addition,the authenticity of a security element or security product according tothe invention can therefore be checked visually without aids.

[0017] It goes without saying that it is not necessarily necessary forall the above substantial aspects of the invention to be provided in oneembodiment of the invention.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, thepersonalization information or individualizing information is formed bya large number of image points, between which there are transparentregions of the layers whose color can be changed. Through thetransparent regions, preferably artificial light and/or daylight arrivesat a reflective and/or scattering layer provided in the security elementaccording to the invention, the reflected and/or scattered light passingat least partially through the regions of the layer whose color is notchanged and/or the layer scattering and/or filtering the artificiallight and/or daylight in its natural color and imparting to an item ofpersonalization or individualizing information according to theinvention or a security element according to the invention acharacteristic tilting effect that can easily be perceived visually.

[0019] In an advantageous refinement of the invention, the securityproduct provided with a security element according to the invention isan identity card, a credit card, a Eurocheque card, an insured person'scard, a telephone card, a driver's license, an authorization card, anidentification document, a product protection label, a banknote or thelike.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, such as in the case of anidentity card (ID card), the item of personalization information is theportrait, the signature and/or person-related data of the authorizedcard holder.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for one ofthe layers whose color can be changed to have colorants of a first type,preferably colorants such as colored pigments which largely absorb bluelight, for example from about 400-460 nm, and whose natural color isyellow. As an alternative or addition, provision is further made for oneof the layers whose color can be changed to have colorants of a secondtype, preferably colorants such as colored pigments which largely absorbgreen light, for example from about 500-560 nm, and whose natural coloris red or magenta. Furthermore, as an alternative or addition, provisionis made for one of the layers whose color can be changed to havecolorants of a third type, preferably colorants such as colored pigmentswhich largely absorb red light, for example from about 580-680 nm, andwhose natural color is blue or cyan. By means of the combination, forexample, of such layers in a security element according to theinvention, the methods of additive and/or subtractive color mixing canbe used to produce an item of personalization information according tothe invention which exhibits a tilting effect or color change that canbe detected clearly under artificial light and/or daylight.

[0022] The various colorants or mixtures of these colorants are, forexample, applied with a vertical offset to the various layers or filmsof the card structure. As a result, in at least two different planes ofthe card structure, bleachable layers are obtained, it being possiblefor the first layer to be bleached with laser radiation of a firstwavelength and for the second layer to be bleached with laser radiationof a second wavelength.

[0023] The invention will be explained below using drawings which arenot necessarily to scale, identical designations referring to identicalor identically acting parts. In the drawings:

[0024]FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of a security element accordingto the invention, which forms part of a card body, using across-sectional drawing of the card body in the region of the securityelement;

[0025]FIG. 2 shows the plan view of a first personalized colored layerof a first exemplary embodiment of a security element according to FIG.1;

[0026]FIG. 3 shows the plan view of a second personalized colored layerof the first exemplary embodiment of the security element according toFIG. 1;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows the plan view of the colored layers from FIGS. 2 and3 lying above one another and covering one another;

[0028]FIG. 5 shows the plan view of the colored layers from FIGS. 2 and3 lying above one another and covering one another at an angle α; and

[0029]FIG. 6 shows the overall image of a second exemplary embodiment ofa tilted security element according to the invention.

[0030]FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of a security element 114according to the invention, which forms part of a card body 100according to the invention, using a cross-sectional drawing of the cardbody in the region of the security element.

[0031] In order to produce a card body 100 according to the invention,in a first step a transparent film 101, for example, is joined to anopaque core film 102 in a conventional way by lamination.

[0032] In order to form a security element 114 according to theinvention on the aforementioned layers, a transparent cover film 103 islaminated on the opaque core film 102. Applied to the transparent coverfilm 103 is a first colored layer 104, to the latter a secondtransparent cover film 103, to the latter a second colored layer 105, tothis a third transparent cover film 103, to the latter a third coloredlayer 106 and finally, ending on the latter, a fourth transparent coverfilm 103.

[0033] “Transparent” and the term “bleached” used below are intended inparticular to be understood to mean that the relevant layer or film islargely or to a sufficient extent transparent to artificial light and/ordaylight. The first colored layer 104, the second colored layer 105 andthe third colored layer 106 according to the invention each have colorand which permit the colored layers to be bleached or made transparent,in each case partially or at some points, independently of one another.

[0034] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will bespecified below. The first colored layer 104 according to the inventionis provided with colored pigments of a first color or it consists ofsuch colored pigments. The second colored layer 105 according to theinvention is provided with colored pigments of a second color or itconsists of such colored pigments. The third colored layer 106 accordingto the invention is provided with colored pigments of a third color orit consists of such colored pigments.

[0035] The first colored layer 104 according to the invention can bebleached partially by first laser radiation, whose wavelength orwavelengths and/or whose intensity is matched appropriately to the firstcolored layer 104. The second colored layer 105 according to theinvention can be bleached partially with the second laser radiation,whose wavelength or wavelengths and/or whose intensity is matchedappropriately to the second colored layer 105. The third colored layer106 according to the invention can be bleached partially with the thirdlaser radiation, whose wavelength or wavelengths and/or whose intensityis matched appropriately to the third colored layer 106.

[0036] Such a card body, which is wholly or partially provided with thesecurity element 114 described, is distinguished in particular by thefact that the actual card body and the security element according to theinvention are in each case present in an unpersonalized or respectivelyan unindividualized state. In this way, it is economically possible topersonalize or to individualize the actual card body and also thesecurity element according to the invention completely with a suitablelaser apparatus.

[0037] The personalization of the security element according to theinvention will be described in detail below:

[0038] A personalizing apparatus according to the invention (notillustrated) produces in a first step a first laser radiation whosewavelength and/or intensity is matched to the first colored layer 104 insuch a way that it physically selectively bleaches or makes transparentthe colorants contained in the first colored layer, such as inparticular colored pigments of a first color.

[0039] In a second step, the personalizing apparatus according to theinvention guides the first laser radiation over the surface of thesecurity element 114 according to the invention and, in the process,produces selectively decolorized regions in the first colored layer 104.The regions which are not decolorized or not bleached form the firstpart of an item of personalization information or individualizinginformation in a first plane. By way of example, the first part of afirst image point 115 of the item of personalization information orindividualizing information which still has the first color isdesignated by the designation 107.

[0040] In a third step, the personalizing apparatus according to theinvention produces a second laser radiation, whose wavelength and/orintensity is matched to the second colored layer 105 in such a way thatthe colorants contained in the second colored layer, such as inparticular colored pigments of a second color, are physicallyselectively bleached or made transparent.

[0041] In a fourth step, the personalizing apparatus according to theinvention guides the second laser radiation over the surface of thesecurity element 114 according to the invention and, in the process,produces selectively decolorized regions in the second colored layer105. The regions which are not decolorized or not bleached form a secondpart of an item of personalization information or individualizinginformation. By way of example, a second constituent of the item ofpersonalization information or individualizing information which stillhas the second color is designated by the designation 108.

[0042] In a fifth step, the personalizing apparatus according to theinvention produces a third laser radiation, whose wavelength and/orintensity is matched to the third colored layer 106 in such a way thatit physically selectively bleaches or makes transparent colorants whichare contained in the third layer, such as in particular colored pigmentsof a third color.

[0043] In a sixth step, the personalizing apparatus according to theinvention guides the third laser radiation over the surface of thesecurity element 114 according to the invention and, in the process,produces selectively decolorized regions in the third colored layer 106.The regions which are not decolorized or not bleached form the third andlast part of the item of personalization information or individualizinginformation in a third plane. By way of example, the third part of thefirst image point 115 of the item of personalization information orindividualizing information which still has the third color isdesignated by the designation 109.

[0044] In the particularly preferred embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 1, the constituents of the item of personalizationinformation or individualizing information which, according to theinvention, can be created on two or more planes in corresponding coloredlayers, have largely the same dimensions and are merely offsetvertically in relation to one another, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] It goes without saying that constituents of the personalizationinformation or individualizing information created on different planescan be arranged to be offset laterally in relation to one another in adifferent exemplary embodiment (not illustrated) by the personalizationmethod according to the invention.

[0046] The complete personalization information or individualizinginformation is therefore formed by a plurality of physically mutuallyseparated image points (not illustrated) in the preferred exemplaryembodiment of the invention, as explained in connection with FIG. 1.Each of the image points, of which only a single point 115 isillustrated in FIG. 1 for clarity, is in each case formed by a region107, 108 and 109.

[0047] It goes without saying that the personalization information orindividualizing information can also be formed by two colored layers orelse more than three colored layers (not illustrated) in anotherexemplary embodiment. An exemplary embodiment with two colored layers isindicated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0048] In the case of an identity card or the like, for example, theitem of personalization information can be the name of the cardholder, aportrait of the cardholder, the identity number or the like. In the caseof a product label or the like, for example, the individualizinginformation can be a serial number or the like.

[0049] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, thepersonalizing apparatus produces the personalization information or theindividualizing information in the manner described above in thesecurity element 114 according to the invention and additionallypersonalizes the card body 100, for example in a further personalizationstep. The personalization of the card body or other security product iscarried out in the same way as the personalization of the securityelement, preferably likewise by means of laser radiation. The laserradiation produced in order to personalize the card body or othersecurity product is in this case matched, in particular with regard towavelength and/or intensity, to the material of the card body or of thesecurity product, in such a way that the latter can be labeled and/orengraved by the laser radiation.

[0050] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,the first colored layer 104 has first colorants, such as in particularcolored pigments, or consists of those which largely absorb blue light,for example light in the range from about 400-460 nm, and whose naturalcolor is yellow. The second colored layer 105 in this exemplaryembodiment has second colorants, such as in particular colored pigments,or consists of those which largely absorb green light, for example lightin the range from about 500-560 nm, and whose natural color is red ormagenta. The third colored layer 106 in this exemplary embodiment hasthird colorants, such as in particular colored pigments, or consists ofthose which largely absorb red light, for example light in the rangefrom about 580-680 nm, and whose natural color is blue or cyan.

[0051] In the following text, the visual checking of the authenticity ofa security element 114 according to the invention will be explained inmore detail using the example of this particularly preferred embodimentof the invention above. If artificial light and/or daylight falls on thesurface of the security element 114 according to the invention, then itpasses through both the transparent cover films 103 and the regions ofthe colored layers 104, 105 and 106 bleached or made transparent duringthe personalization of the security element, and reaches the surface ofthe opaque core film 102. The opaque core film 102 is chosen, accordingto the invention, in such a way that it reflects and/or scatters theartificial light and/or daylight reaching it. Artificial light and/ordaylight reflected and/or scattered by the opaque core film 102 passesfrom below through the unbleached region 107 of the first colored layer104, which acts as a first color filter. The wavelengths of theartificial light and/or daylight that are not absorbed by the firstunbleached region 107 pass from below through the unbleached region. 108of the second colored layer 105, which acts as a second color filter.The wavelengths that are not absorbed by the second unbleached region108 will be held back by the unbleached region 109 in this exemplaryembodiment because of the selected colors of the colored layers and theassociated subtractive color mixing.

[0052] If the observer looks vertically at the unbleached regions 107,108 and 109 located in different planes and arranged one above another,he sees an overall image 110 of an image point 115 of thepersonalization information which is black.

[0053] To check the authenticity, the observer tilts the securityelement 114 or the card body 100 according to the invention slowly.During the tilting action, at an angle α he sees an overall imagecomprising individual images 111, 112 and 113. During the tiltingprocess, a change in the color of the overall image or image point 115occurs, since the position of the individual images 111, 112 and 113 inrelation to one another appears to change. This is an indication of theauthenticity of the security element according to the invention, sincethis effect occurs only when the information forming the personalizationinformation or individualizing information is distributed to differentplanes 104, 105 and 106. In the case of a simple imprint of thepersonalization information or individualizing information in one layeron a security product according to the invention or a security elementaccording to the invention, this effect does not occur.

[0054] A particularly intense tilting effect may be achieved, accordingto the invention, by the layer thickness of the transparent films 103between the colored layers 104, 105 and 106 being chosen to be greaterthan the lateral extent of the unbleached regions 107, 108 and 109. Theunbleached regions 107, 108 and 109 together form a single one of manyimage points, whose entirety represents the personalization informationand/or individualizing information. For reasons of clarity, however,only a single such image point 115 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The imagepoints or unbleached regions are preferably in each case enclosed bytransparent and/or bleached regions, so that an adequate amount ofartificial light and/or daylight can reach the scattering, opaque corefilm 102. This permits the above described tilting effect to be clearlyvisible.

[0055] By using FIGS. 2 to 5, in the following text an exemplaryembodiment of the personalization or individualization of a securityelement 114 according to the invention with the sequence of letters“ABCD” will be explained. As distinct from the security element 114according to FIG. 1, the security element in this exemplary embodimenthas only two colored layers 104 and 105. As compared with the securityelement 114 illustrated in FIG. 1, the colored layer 109 and the toptransparent cover film 103 according to FIG. 1 are therefore missing.

[0056] In a first personalization step, the colored layer 105 isselectively or partially bleached in the manner already described bymeans of first laser radiation matched to the colored layer 105, so thatthe checkerboard pattern 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 with the sequence ofletters “ABCD” is produced. The checkerboard pattern 200 has firsttransparent regions and first regions whose color is not changed. InFIG. 2, the transparent regions are illustrated by white fields and theregions whose color is not changed are illustrated by black fields.

[0057] In a second personalization step, the different colored layer 104lying under the colored layer 105 is likewise selectively or partiallybleached in the manner already described by means of second laserradiation matched to the colored layer 104, so that the checkerboardpattern 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 is produced. The checkerboard pattern300 has second transparent regions and second regions whose color is notchanged. In FIG. 3, the transparent regions are illustrated by whitefields and the regions whose color is not changed are illustrated bygray fields.

[0058] If the checkerboard patterns illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 areproduced one above another so as to coincide, then an observer who viewsthe surface of such a security element according to the inventionvertically sees the overall image 400 shown in FIG. 4. In the sequenceof letters “ABCD” that is visible in the plan view, the color of thecolored layer 105 dominates as compared with the color of the coloredlayer 104.

[0059] If the security element according to the invention is tilted bythe observer, then the overall image 500 shown in FIG. 5 manifestsitself to the observer, in which figure, in the visible sequence ofletters “ABCD”, conversely, the color of the colored layer 104 nowdominates as compared with the color of the colored layer 105. The colorchange in the personalization information, in this case the sequence ofletters “ABCD”, which is associated with the tilting of such apersonalized security element according to the invention is particularlyeasy to see, in particular under artificial light and/or daylight, andpermits simple, in particular visual, authenticity checking of such asecurity element according to the invention.

[0060]FIG. 6 shows the overall image 600 of a further exemplaryembodiment of a security element according to the invention at a tiltangle. The security element of this exemplary embodiment is providedwith information that identifies the security element. This informationis not information which personalizes or individualizes the securityelement but information which, for example, can be provided on a largenumber of security elements or card bodies, security products or thelike provided with such a security element.

[0061] In this exemplary embodiment, use is made of a security elementthat—as in the preceding example—has only two colored layers 104 and 105arranged above one another. In a first step, by means of laser radiationmatched to the colored layer 104, concentric circles 601 are produced inthe colored layer 104. The colored circles 601 are surrounded bytransparent and/or bleached regions of the colored layer 104. In asecond step, by means of laser radiation matched to the colored layer105, concentric circles 602 are produced in the colored layer 105 in themanner described in the manner described. The circles 602 of a differentcolor as compared with the colored circles 601 are surrounded bytransparent regions 605 of the colored layer 105. In a (vertical) planview (not illustrated), such a security element shows the observer anoverall image which comprises concentric circles of a mixed colorbetween the color of the colored layer 104 and the color of the coloredlayer 105. If the security element is tilted by an observer, then theoverall image 600 shown in FIG. 6 is produced, in which the concentriccircles 601 and 602 cover each other only in subregions, like the region603. This tilting effect can in particular be detected visually in asimple way and permits quick authenticity checking, in particular underartificial light and/or daylight. A simple imprint does not exhibit thistilting effect.

[0062] However, the invention is not restricted to concentric circles.Instead, all other types of line structures which exhibit the Moireeffect are also claimed. A particularly preferred embodiment uses linestructures in the form of guilloches, which are of particular importancein security printing.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of thecolored layers 104,105 and 106 are applied by a printing process, suchas in particular by offset printing, screen printing or simply doctoringon. The layer thickness of the colored layers, which are wholly orpartly formed by colorants such as, in particular, colored pigments, canhave a layer thickness of about 1 to 20 μm, for example. The cover films103 typically have a thickness of about 50 to 100 μm. The individuallayers or films, in particular in the case of an identity or ID card,are preferably chosen in such a way that the relevant card has thenormal overall thickness for a corresponding card, such as about 800 μm.

[0064] If the security product is an identity or ID card, then as a ruleuse is made in a conventional way of a core film 102 which has finecomplicated line structures, such as guilloches. The core film 102 canbe formed from one or more laminated plastic or paper layers.

[0065] However, the invention is not restricted to the method accordingto the invention of selective bleaching for producing the coloredpersonalization and/or individualizing information. Instead, a furthermethod according to the invention can also be used for colored laserlabeling. In this case, the production of the colored personalizationand/or individualizing information is carried out by usingphotosensitive substances as the colorants in the layers whose color canbe changed. These photosensitive substances are, for example, what areknown as latent pigments and/or what are known as color formers. Suchsubstances absorb no visible light or absorb it only to a very lowextent. They therefore appear colorless or only weakly colored. With theaid of laser radiation or laser light, a chemical reaction is broughtabout in photosensitive layers which are provided with such a substance,during which reaction a colorant is formed.

[0066] As in the case of bleaching according to the invention,therefore, within the layers whose color can be changed, a partial colorchange is carried out by means of laser radiation of a suitablewavelength. As opposed to the use of bleachable colorants, in which thelaser beam has the effect of increasing the transparency, the use ofsuch substances as latent pigments or color formers increases the colorintensity by means of the laser light. In the ideal case, such asubstance permits the color intensity to be increased from 0 to a finitevalue. By using different substances of the aforementioned type indifferent layers, different colors are produced in the different layers,so that, as in the case of using bleachable substances such asbleachable pigments, the implementation of a security element accordingto the invention with a tilting effect is possible.

[0067] List of Designations:

[0068]100 part of a card body with security element

[0069]101 transparent film

[0070]102 opaque core film

[0071]103 transparent cover film

[0072]104 first colored layer

[0073]105 second colored layer

[0074]106 third colored layer

[0075]107 unbleached region of the first colored layer

[0076]108 unbleached region of the second colored layer

[0077]109 unbleached region of the third colored layer

[0078]110 overall image of the unbleached regions in plan view

[0079]111 individual image of the unbleached region 109 at the tiltangle α

[0080]112 individual image of the unbleached region 108 at the tiltangle α

[0081]113 individual image of the unbleached region 107 at the tiltangle α

[0082]114 security element

[0083]115 image point

[0084]200 plan view of the colored layer 105 of a first exemplaryembodiment of a security element according to the invention

[0085]300 plan view of the colored layer 104 of the first exemplaryembodiment

[0086]400 vertical plan view of the security element according to theinvention according to the first exemplary embodiment

[0087]401 image point

[0088]500 plan view of the security element according to the inventionaccording to the first exemplary embodiment at an angle α

[0089]501 image point

[0090]600 plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a securityelement according to the invention at a tilt angle

[0091]601 concentric circle in the first plane formed by the coloredlayer 104

[0092]602 concentric circle in the second plane formed by the coloredlayer 105

[0093]603 overlap region of a circle of the first plane with a circle ofthe second plane

[0094]604 transparent region in the colored layer 104

[0095]605 transparent region in the colored layer 105

1. An element secured against forgery and/or counterfeiting, that is tosay a security element (114), characterized by at least two layers(104,105,106) that are located one above another and whose color can bechanged partially or at some points.
 2. The security element as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the layers (104,105,106) whose colorcan be changed originally have different colors.
 3. The security elementas claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and/orsecond layer (104,105,106) whose color can be changed has regions(604,605) that are transparent under artificial light and/or daylightand/or regions whose color can be changed.
 4. The security element asclaimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least onecolored region (108) of the second layer (105) covers at least onecolored region (107) of the first layer (104).
 5. The security elementas claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the colored region (107) ofthe first layer (104) and the colored region (108) of the second layer(105) and, if appropriate, colored regions (109) lying above these andbelonging to further layers (106) together form a part, such as inparticular an image point (115; 401; 501), of an item of personalizationinformation (ABCD) and/or an item of information that individualizes thesecurity element, such as in particular a portrait, a signature orperson-related data.
 6. The security element as claimed in one of claims1 to 5, characterized in that the transparent regions (604, 605) and/orthe regions whose color can be changed have been at least partly createdby laser radiation.
 7. The security element as claimed in one of claims1 to 6, characterized in that one of the layers whose color can bechanged has colorants of a first type, preferably colorants such ascolored pigments which largely absorb blue light, for example from about400-460 nm, and whose natural color is yellow, and/or one of the layerswhose color can be changed has colorants of a second type, preferablycolorants such as colored pigments which largely absorb green light, forexample from about 500-560 nm, and whose natural color is red or magentaand/or in that one of the layers whose color can be varied has colorantsof a third type, preferably colorants such as colored pigments whichlargely absorb red light, for example from about 580-680 nm, and whosenatural color is blue or cyan.
 8. The security element as claimed in oneof claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the security element has a largenumber of such image points (115; 401; 501) which form the item ofpersonalization information and/or the item of information thatindividualizes the security element, the image points which are formedby the colored regions (107,108,109) that are located one above anotherin various planes (104,105,106) exhibiting a color change, such as inparticular a color fringe, when the security element (114) is tilted. 9.The security element as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that eachof the first to third colorants can be bleached or made transparent bythe action of optical radiation matched to the respective colorant, suchas in particular laser radiation of specific wavelength and/orintensity.
 10. The security element as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9,characterized in that the layers whose color can be changed and/or theregions whose color can be changed and belong to the layers whose colorcan be changed have a colorant formed by laser radiation and, for thispurpose, are preferably provided with what are known as latent pigmentsand/or with what are known as color formers.
 11. A security product,characterized in that the security product (100) has a security element(114) as claimed in one of claims 1 to
 10. 12. The security product asclaimed in claim 11, characterized in that the security product is anidentity card (100), a credit card, a Eurocheque card, an insuredperson's card, a telephone card, a driver's license, an authorizationcard, an identification document, a product protection label, a banknoteor the like.
 13. A method of personalizing and/or individualizing asecurity element (114) and/or a security product (100) as claimed in oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of thelayers (104,105,106) whose color can be changed has its color changed insome regions (107,108,109) of the layer (104,105,106) in a first step,preferably by using laser radiation whose wavelength and/or intensity isin each case matched to the colorant that is present in the relevantlayer and/or can be imaged, the regions of the layer whose color cannotbe changed forming part of an item of personalization information and/oran item of information that individualizes the security element orsecurity product or another item of information.
 14. The method asclaimed in claim 13, characterized in that the color change is carriedout in the form of bleaching or removing and/or discoloring and/ormaking transparent, preferably to artificial and/or daylight, and/or adiscoloring form.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 13 or 14,characterized in that the color change is made in such a way that aregion (108) that is colored and/or whose color can be changed andbelongs to the second layer (105) is located with a vertical offsetabove a colored region (107) and/or above a region whose color can bechanged and belongs to the first layer (104).
 16. The method as claimedin claim 15, characterized in that the colored region (107) and/or theregion whose color can be changed and belongs to the first layer (104)corresponds substantially in its extent to the extent of the coloredregion (108) and/or of the region whose color can be changed and belongsto the second layer (105), as a result of which the colored regionand/or the region whose color can be changed and belongs to the firstlayer covers the colored region and/or the region whose color can bechanged and belongs to the second layer in a largely vertical plan viewof the security element (114) or security product (100), preferablysubstantially flush.
 17. An apparatus for producing a security elementand/or a security product, characterized in that the apparatus forproducing a security element (114) or security product (100) is modifiedin accordance with one of the preceding claims.
 18. An apparatus forpersonalizing a security element and/or security product, characterizedin that the apparatus for personalizing a security element (114) orsecurity product (100) is modified in accordance with one of thepreceding claims and/or is modified in accordance with one of thepreceding claims of the personalization.